Green Honeycreeper, La Milpa, Belize (© Phil Riebel Photography)
by Phil Riebel, Director – Carbon Balanced Paper North America
It was an early morning in January and we were driving for some time through the rural backcountry of Belize, mostly agricultural and pasture lands. The goal of my trip was nature and bird photography which I had been doing for the past week. Aside from one Jabiru stork standing in an open farm field, my guide Rudy and I did not see many birds during the drive, mainly because much of the forest had been cleared to make room for crops and cattle.
However, that changed quickly as we approached a wall of tall trees and entered a thick lush jungle filled with the songs of various birds. We were greeted by a ranger at a gatehouse who checked our permit and raised the gate to let us enter. We were now in the conservation area at La Milpa.
La Milpa
La Milpa is best known for its archaeological site and an ancient Maya city within the Three River region of Northwest Belize bordering Mexico and Guatemala. The site lies within the Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area which spans over 102,790 hectares (254,000 acres) of diverse ecosystems. The area was established in 1989 by Programme for Belize (PfB) with support from World Land Trust (WLT).
The Rio Bravo is the largest private protected area in Belize, covering 4.4% of the country’s land and forming part of the greater Selva Maya Region, the largest continuous protected area in Central America and one of the most remarkable conservation success stories in the world.
This biodiversity hotspot is home to more than 70 mammal species, including jaguars, pumas, and Baird’s tapirs. In 2008, the area was recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International, providing refuge for 444 bird species. Additionally, the reserve protects vital ecosystems like lowland broadleaf forests, pine savannas, and freshwater wetlands. The presence of ancient Maya ruins further underscores the region’s cultural and ecological significance.
My birding experience was incredible. In only 5 hours of exploring the tropical jungle, we identified 61 species of birds including two sightings of the elusive Pheasant Cuckoo which even surprised Rudy who has been a bird guide in Belize for 25 years. Other great sightings included the Great Curassow and Crested Guan.
Great Curassow male and female, La Milpa, Belize (© Phil Riebel Photography)
Wood carved and framed sign in La Milpa lodge
Legacy of Conservation
The efforts of World Land Trust have been significant in the conservation of biodiversity hotspots around the world, and its history is deeply rooted in Belize.
The conservation movement in Belize emerged in the early 20th century as a response to extensive timber extraction that threatened the country’s biodiversity. After logging company BEPC ceased operations in the 1950s, conservationists—including Dr. Gerard Bertrand—recognized the need to protect critical habitats, especially for migratory birds. This led to the founding of the Programme for Belize (PfB) which raised international funds to purchase and safeguard forestland. The “Buy an Acre” campaign played a crucial role in acquiring over 250,000 acres of protected land.
PfB’s success eventually led to the creation of the UK-based World Land Trust (WLT) in 1996, which continues conservation efforts in Belize. The Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area remains a model for protecting biodiversity, carbon sequestration and sustainable ecotourism.
Additionally, the Greater Belize Maya Forest Conservation Project, launched in 2021, aims to safeguard 236,000 hectares of tropical rainforest, forming part of the vast Selva Maya ecosystem that connects Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. This large-scale conservation effort is supported by international and local environmental organizations, ensuring the long-term protection of one of Central America’s most significant landscapes.
Today, carbon sequestration projects play an ever-increasing and important role in raising funds to protect these critical conservation areas.
How Carbon Balanced Paper aligns with these efforts
The success of conservation initiatives like the Rio Bravo highlights the importance of sustainable land use and responsible resource management.
Carbon Balanced Paper partners with World Land Trust, which has been actively protecting vulnerable natural habitats for over 30 years. Through this initiative funds are raised so that greenhouse gas emissions generated from the manufacture of paper, paper-based packaging production and printing are balanced by the conservation of threatened tropical forests, ensuring that these landscapes continue to serve as carbon sinks and wildlife refuges.
In April 2021, Carbon Balanced Paper North America was launched after the program demonstrated great success and growth in the UK and Europe. Today, we couldn’t be more pleased with our progress. With over 45 major brands and three merchant partners on board (MIDLAND, WCP Solutions, West World Paper), we have balanced over 55 million pounds of paper which has offset over 29,000 metric tons of CO2 and helped protect about 2,000 acres of vulnerable forest habitat. Globally, our numbers are at 75,000 acres of land protected.
My visit to the WLT-funded area at La Milpa allowed me to see its natural beauty and biodiversity firsthand, and re-enforce my belief in the importance of raising funds to ensure we protect these areas for the long term.
Additional resources:
https://www.worldlandtrust.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/belize/
https://www.worldlandtrust.org/who-we-are-2/partners/programme-belize/
